Improvement in carriage-top joints



W. B. 6. STIRLING & J. W. POHLMAN.

Carriage-Top Joints. I

N0. 145,135. Patented Dec 2,l873..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. C. STIRLING AND JOHN W. POHLMAN, OF BATAVIA, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARRIAGE-TOP JOINTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,135, dated December 2, 1873 application filed August 4, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM B. O. STIR- LING and JOHN W. POHLMAN, of Bate-via, in the county of Olermont and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Garriage lop Joint, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a side view of our joint, as applied to a buggy-top when the same is raised, dotted lines indicating its position when folded down. Fig. 2 is a detail side view of the joint showing its position when the top is raised. Fig. 3 is a detail side view of the joint when the top is down; and Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section of the joint on the line as 00, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of our invention is to provide, for the purpose of raising and lowering the tops of carriages of all kinds, an improved joint or prop, by which the braces are effectually extended and rigidly supported when the top is thrown up, and neatly and compactly arranged when folded down. Our invention consists of a combined joint for the braces of a carriagetop, so that the same fold easily into parallel position, together with an abutting extension of the supporting-brace, which looks a projecting rib into a corresponding recess of the ex tended brace, for keeping it rigidly in position when the top is opened.

In the drawing, A B 0 represent the three braces, of which A and O are connected to the symmetrically-arranged hinges a a at the end of brace B. A is the supporting-brace, which is provided near its hinge end with an abutting extension, b, of any suitable size or shape, ornamental or otherwise. A projecting rib, d, is arranged centrally on the face or top of extension b, and fits into a recess, 01, of corresponding shape, of brace C.

When the top is folded down, the braces A, B, and O are parallel to each other, as indicated Fig. 3; when the top is thrown up, the lower brace A becomes the supporting-brace of the two others byturnin g brace O in hinge on on an. angle of one hundred and eighty degrees, so that it forms a straight line with brace B. The recess d of brace O closes over rib d of supporting-brace A, and locks thereby, by the pressure of the carriage-top, the joint rigidly in this position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The lateral motion of the braces and the un steadiness resulting from it are effectually prevented, and a very compact joint produced.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of braces A, B, and G, forming a carriage-top joint or prop, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, in a carriage-top joint, of the inclined brace A, provided with the forward extension .1), having the rib d, and the front brace 0, having the recess d, as and for the purpose specified.

WILLIAM B. STIRLING. JOHN W. POHLMAN.

\Vitnesses H. N. TALLEY, F. S. VAN WAGNER. 

